Business Graduate Students Tackle Issue of Online Education

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Graduate students in the Innovation and Creativity course at the Sam M. Walton College of Business are tackling the question of how to provide quality, low cost online education and they are doing it from the students’ point of view.

They will present their findings in “The Pinnacle of Online Education: A Student Perspective” on Monday, May 7, at 9 a.m. in Willard J. Walker Hall Room 403.

Rebecca Miles, an instructor in the department of management, said the students were inspired by University of Arkansas System President Donald R. Bobbitt, who earlier this year challenged universities to provide quality, low-cost education that can be accessed from anywhere. “Dr. Bobbitt’s vision of a ‘portfolio’ of educational offerings allowed the students to overcome their initial hesitancy about online education and explore the ways that technology can be an engaging complement to the traditional model,” Miles said. “After researching the standards and exploring the possibilities, the students’ enthusiasm and creativity sparked recommendations and design elements.”

The students in Miles’ course researched the issue, considering what would – from a student perspective – be the ideal form of online education. Miles said she and the students know they don’t have all the answers to the challenges of delivering effective online education, but they hope to encourage more dialog about the issue, beginning with a question and answer session following their presentation. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend the presentation and stay to join the discussion.

Online education continues to gain importance in the United States. According to a report from the Babson Survey Research Group in 2010 about online education in the United States, almost 30 percent of all enrolled students signed up for at least one online course during the fall semester of 2009. Since 2002, the number of students taking online courses has steadily increased. In addition, more than 60 percent of higher education institutions report that online education is an important long-term strategy for their institution.

Marion Dunagan, the assistant dean for graduate programs, said online education has been a component of several programs at the Walton College, including the part-time Managerial Master’s of Business Administration. “The (managerial) M.B.A. is a perfect example of how the Walton College has embraced the hybrid delivery of study programs,” she said. “These programs blend the best of face-to-face learning with the best of online.”

For more information, visit the class webpage at http://gsb.uark.edu/innovation-MGMT5363.asp